Comparative Study of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) versus Corticosteroid Injections in the Management of Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Purpose:
This study aims to evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) versus corticosteroid injections in managing chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA) over a 12-month follow-up period.

Methods:
A prospective, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 100 participants diagnosed with Grade II-III knee OA. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either three PRP injections spaced four weeks apart or three corticosteroid injections every three months. Primary outcomes included pain reduction, assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and knee functionality, measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Secondary outcomes included quality of life, evaluated using the SF-36 Health Survey. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results:
At baseline, no significant differences were found between groups. Over 12 months, the PRP group demonstrated significantly greater pain reduction (mean VAS decrease: 4.9, p < 0.001) and improvement in WOMAC scores (mean difference: 28.4, p < 0.001) compared to the corticosteroid group. Quality of life, as measured by SF-36 scores, also improved significantly in the PRP group (p < 0.001). Both interventions were well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported.

Conclusions:
PRP injections provide superior long-term pain relief, functional improvement, and enhanced quality of life for knee OA patients compared to corticosteroid injections. PRP’s regenerative properties suggest it as a viable alternative to corticosteroids for sustained OA management. Further research should focus on standardizing PRP protocols and assessing its long-term efficacy and safety across diverse patient populations.